Bobby’s WaPo Editorial

Bobby’s WaPo Editorial

In January 2017, Montgomery County’s council made history, as the first county-level government in the country to pass a $15 minimum wage, which would significantly improve the ability for working class families to live in Maryland’s most expensive jurisdiction and one of the most expensive places to live in the United States.

Unfortunately, County Executive Ike Leggett made history of his own soon after as the first Democrat ever to veto an increase in the minimum wage. The Washington Post Editorial Board issued an editorial praising the wisdom of his decision, essentially repeating the exact points that Leggett made in his statement that accompanied the veto.

I found their logic to be just as transparently flawed as when I first heard it from Leggett or from those council members who were opposed to the bill, and so I decided to let them know:

Our county is among the wealthiest in the nation, with a median household income of $99,435. Money talks, and Mr. Leggett’s argument walks; businesses will stay in Montgomery County and continue to come here because of the disposable income our residents wield, a feature of our market that will only be enhanced as more workers previously struggling to make ends meet start to earn a living wage.